DC National Guard is moving out of its longtime HQ to make room for Commanders’ new NFL stadium

DC National Guard is moving out of its longtime HQ to make room for Commanders’ new NFL stadium The DC National Guard has been headquartered in the Armory for more than 80 years - Bookmark - CommentsGo to comments The Washington, D.C., National Guard has confirmed it will leave its longtime headquarters at the D.C. Armory to make room for redevelopment plans at RFK Campus. The city is collecting feedback for its development plans at the campus, which includes housing, new parks, retail and recreation spaces, and a new NFL stadium to serve as the home of the Washington Commanders. The new plan does not incorporate the D.C. Armory into its vision, so the district's National Guard will have to find a new home. “The U.S. Army is evaluating multiple sites to relocate the D.C. National Guard Readiness Center from its current location near the RFK stadium campus,” Command Public Affairs Director Master Sergeant. Arthur M. Wright told DC News Now. “The relocation is necessary due to the upcoming redevelopment of the RFK campus, which will impact the DCNG’s mission capabilities.” Wright told the outlet that the National Guard was considering an 80-acre parcel of land at the Armed Forces Retirement Home campus, located in Northwest Washington, D.C. The site sits near the intersection of North Capitol Street and Irving Street NW. The D.C. Armory has been the home of the National Guard in the district for more than 80 years. "This effort is designed to be a strategic investment in our national security, ensuring our Soldiers have the state-of-the-art facilities they need to respond to any crisis," a spokesperson for the D.C. National Guard told ABC7. "We are committed to working closely with our partners in the D.C. government and the local community throughout this process." In addition to being the service branch's headquarters, the Armory also is hosts a gala for incoming presidential administrations. That tradition dates back to 1949 with then-President Harry S. Truman. Despite being a site with historical significance, the Armory is not on the National Register of Historic Places. It is eligible for the list, and is also located inside the National Register-eligible Anacostia Park Historic District, meaning there are potential avenues for it to gain protected status. The future RFK campus, according to the city's newly released master plan, will include 5,500 to 6,500 housing units, and at least 30 percent of that is meant to be affordable housing, according to WTOP. D.C. Office of Planning Director Anita Cozart told the broadcaster the new campus will also have a "significant amount of park space," that includes new access points to the Anacostia River waterfront. Join our commenting forum Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies Comments